An open letter to NPR ombudsman Alicia C. Shepard, et al

NPR has banned the word 'torture' in reference to American torture programmes, such as that of Mr. Bush. I had noted a few months ago a sudden change in the tone of their coverage, and the adoption of GOP euphemisms for torture; it turns out this is official policy, as explained by NPR ombudsman Alica C. Shepard.

Here is my letter in response:

Dear Ms. Shepard, et al -

Some months ago, I noticed a rather sharp shift in the tone of NPR's coverage of the Bush administration's torture programme, and the adoption of Republican euphemisms to describe it, such as "harsh interrogation techniques." Now, thanks to this column:

http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2009/06/harsh_interrogation_techniques.html

...I finally have an explanation, sophistic and hypocritical though it may be. It is good to know that NPR has relinquished all hint of devotion to fact-based reporting in favour of political expediency, even if that awareness disgusts me. It particularly appals me that this is happening on a topic so critical, and so central to the core values of American government - the ideas of rule of law, of accountability, and so on.

I have, in the past, been a regular contributor to my local NPR stations - particularly KPLU. I have often enjoyed NPR's relatively in-depth coverage, and have been willing to help pay for that coverage by contributing through my local NPR station.

However, given this new reality, I will never give NPR, or any NPR program, another dime. Should you, as a network, apologise for this wretched behavior - publicly and on-air - and follow that by an actual change in coverage to reflect obvious and incontrovertible fact, I might reconsider.

And then again, I might not.


Sincerely,


solarbird

It's actually worse than just acknowledging and defending the policy; she spends as much time minimising the torture techniques as torture advocates used to before they admitted it was torture and just started trying to say that was a good thing. But I wanted to stick to the simpler message: your explanation is bullshit, you are lying, and I'll never give you another dime.

I recommend others express their opinions to NPR here.